OTR Hoops: Alabama-Tennessee Postseason Breakouts (Part 1) – March 4, 2024
This is the first installment of weekly recap of postseason players at each level of basketball in the hoop’s hotbed of Alabama/Tennessee. Every week 6 players will be highlighted based on his performance throughout the 2023-2024 postseason.
By: David Hinds
Luke Stephens – 6’4 – PG – Fort Payne (AL) – 2024 (Pictured Above)
Stephens’s game is all about versatility. The Swiss army knife simply does whatever is asked of him to win. Showing great positional size, he is comfortable taking smaller matchups into the post where he has an array of post moves from the point guard position. Luke is incredibly crafty in his mannerisms when attacking the basket and is known for drawing contact along the way. He also possesses deep range and when given adequate time to line up his shot he is nearly automatic. He is a high academic prospect that is going to have a huge summer as an unsigned senior.
Framuel Diaz – 6’7 – PF – Hamilton Heights (TN) – 2025
Diaz is one of the more intriguing class of ’25 prospects in the entire state. Possessing a college ready frame with a nearly 40% three-point stroke it is easy to see why college coaches would be intrigued. He possesses a soft touch around the rim where he is crafty in his movements while possessing ballerina-esque footwork. Diaz is a talented passer as well with the ability to run an offense through him as a central hub.
Jalen Bright – 6’4 – PG – Hazel Green (AL) – 2024
Bright is a freak athlete first and foremost. The long point guard prospect loves nothing more than to rise up and put an unlucky defender on a poster. There is more to his game however as he has shown some playmaking chops and a willingness to use his incredible burst to set up others. He is at his best working downhill with the option to finish strong or drop off an easy pass into the dunker spot for an easy two points. Jalen’s natural athleticism translates to the defensive end where he is a menace for the entire length of the court.
Gaas Herman – 6’3 – SG – Notre Dame (TN) – 2025
Herman is wired to score. It is impossible to speed him up and he plays at his own pace. Don’t mistake my previous statement as saying he is slow by any means. Gaas is a versatile athlete that is capable of finishing well above the rim as well as showing crafty finishes with either hand. He has shown incredible promise as an off the dribble scorer as well this season and is among the best in the South when it comes to stop and pop threes. A consummate team player, Gaas is the type of kid that others gravitate towards and love to play with.
Rodger Grant – 6’6 – SF – Ensworth (TN) – 2025
Grant is a big-bodied jumbo wing that is built like an NFL tight end. It is hard for defenders to contain him as he can simply put his head down and barrel his way to easy baskets while often picking up and one’s along the way. Rodger does all the little things necessary to contribute to winning such as playing physical defense, sticking his nose in for rebounds, blocking shots around the basket, and just generally contributing with immense hustle. Grant is a rising prospect that is primed to parlay his postseason success into a big summer season.
Davis Dare – 5’11 – PG – American Christian Academy (AL) – 2024
Dare is the offensive engine that churns his ACA squad. Constantly probing the defense, Davis does an excellent job balancing setting teammates up while also searching for his own spots on the court. Davis is a vocal leader that led a strong group of ACA teammates to the state championship game which many had not projected earlier in the season. This is a testament to Davis’s ability to put his team on his back and carry them as far as humanly possible.
David Hinds has been an Evaluator for On the Radar Hoops since 2024. He is the Program Director/17u HC of the Rocket City Suns and is the Head JV/Assistant Varsity Coach at St. John Paul II Catholic HS in Huntsville, Alabama. You can reach him at rocketcitysuns@gmail.com and follow him on twitter @CoachHindsRCS.
